Laura Bernardi

Laura Bernardi is an Associate Professor for Demography and Sociology of the Life Course at the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lausanne, and serves as Deputy Director of the NCCR LIVES. With a distinguished career spanning multiple institutions across Europe, she has established herself as a prominent researcher in demographic studies, particularly focusing on family dynamics, fertility patterns, and life course analysis.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Demography from the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (2002)
• Postdoctoral year at the Population and Training Center, Brown University (USA)
• Head of the Independent Research Group on the Culture of Reproduction at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (2003-2009)
• Junior Professor for Demographic Change at the University of Rostock (2004-2008)

Professor Bernardi's research primarily centers on Fertility and Family dynamics, Life Course analysis, Social interaction within families, sexuality studies, and anthropological approaches to social demography. She is particularly known for her work on mixed methods for empirical research, bridging qualitative and quantitative approaches to understand complex demographic phenomena. Her research often examines how cultural, social, and economic factors intersect to shape family formation, reproductive behavior, and relationship dynamics across different European contexts.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on contemporary demographic challenges, including family diversity in Europe, migrant integration patterns, child well-being in various family structures, and the impact of major societal disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic on life course trajectories. Her work consistently applies life course theory to understand how individual experiences are shaped by historical context, social institutions, and personal agency.

Professor Bernardi has been actively involved in research leadership as Deputy Director of NCCR LIVES, which focuses on understanding life course dynamics and transitions. Her collaborative work spans multiple European countries, reflecting the international nature of demographic research and the importance of comparative approaches to understanding family and fertility patterns.